The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 84

[84. Chapter 84 A loving father and a filial son]

. The twenty-first day of the twelfth lunar month.

The New Year’s Eve is getting closer and closer.

In the Forbidden City, even though heavy snow was falling again, the eunuchs of the Shrine Palace started cleaning every corner of the palace with brooms early in the morning.

In the Nuan Pavilion, Emperor Hongzhi, who rarely had a break, still got up early. This had become a habit for him. No matter when he fell asleep, he would wake up automatically as soon as Mao hour came.

He is like a spinning top that never stops, always appearing at the Nuan Pavilion on time.

In the Nuan Pavilion, several cabinet bachelors are often waiting here early, and there is already a rare tacit understanding between the monarch and his ministers.

Without too many formalities, Emperor Hongzhi sat down. He looked very tired, but when he raised his eyes and saw Li Dongyang, he couldn’t help but said with concern: “Master Li, you are old and in poor health.”

Li Dongyang is not only a bachelor of the cabinet, but also serves as the minister of the Ministry of household affairs.

Other departments and departments let themselves go as soon as the end of the year comes, but the household department is different. It must calculate the balance for the year and make plans for money and food expenditures in the coming year. Therefore, taking advantage of the last few days of the new year, Li Dongyang ran to the Ministry of Household Affairs almost all night long to urge the Ministry of Household Affairs to quickly calculate this year’s expenses and income.

The reason is that they are afraid of delaying the national economy and people’s livelihood after the spring of next year.

Li Dongyang smiled bitterly: “I have to be busy, but I will only be busy for these few days. When these days pass, it will be a pleasure to go home and entertain my grandchildren during the New Year.”

After hearing this, Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t help laughing.

Liu Jiandao: “On weekdays, the court pays too much attention to classics and history. However, the economic talent is also related to the foundation of the country. I usually neglect it, but now it has caused the Ministry of Household Affairs to be confused. Please forgive me.”

Emperor Hongzhi was quite fond of it. Thoughts: “Yes. Our Ming Dynasty selected scholars through the imperial examination. However, when the scholars became officials, they had to govern the world for me. They could not do it by relying on the articles in the classics. They must understand the classics and history, and be proficient in them. Such people are rare among miscellaneous students.”

He smiled slightly and said, “Fortunately, Master Li is thoughtful and thoughtful. With him in the household department, I have nothing to worry about.

” The balance had not yet been calculated, but everyone was still in a relaxed mood, and they all laughed.

At this point, Xie Qian also laughed: “I heard that something really happened here. That boy Fang Jifan was beaten by Yingtian Mansion Jieyuan.”

“Is there such a thing?” After hearing this, Emperor Hongzhi said, He was stunned for a moment, but then he seemed a little angry. A cold glint unexpectedly flashed across his casual eyes.

In fact, Emperor Hongzhi was an emperor who valued friendship very much. To Empress Zhang, he was an extremely dedicated husband. To the people, he was particularly loving and diligent in government. To his courtiers, he was also extremely considerate and generous. There will never be a big prison. Even for people like the Zhang brothers, although Emperor Hongzhi deeply hated the behavior of the two brothers-in-law and punished them frequently, once someone impeached them, Emperor Hongzhi also protected them.

This guy Fang Jifan was talented. Others may not know this, but Emperor Hongzhi had a unique vision, but he also saw that this talent was a bit crooked. This guy’s character… is very complicated. It seems like he wants to teach him a lesson, but no matter what, Emperor Hongzhi regards him as a late-born descendant. Now, Lang Lang Qiankun is actually being beaten up. Is this okay?

“Has the imperial doctor visited you?” Emperor Hongzhi frowned: “That Jieyuan from Yingtian Mansion is so brave…”

Xie Qian shook his head and smiled bitterly: “It’s strange to say that although Tang Jieyuan beat up Fang Jifan, Fang Jifan was not injured at all. No damage, he is jumping around outside every day, but Tang Jieyuan has not gotten out of bed for more than half a month. According to the doctor, he is covered with bruises…”

“…”

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Xie Qian speechlessly, and Xie Qian also looked at it with a wry smile. Emperor Hongzhi.

Liu Jian was a little confused, but Li Dongyang reacted and couldn’t help coughing.

This… is a bit embarrassing.

The people in the Nuan Pavilion were all very smart people. In a flash of thought, they knew what happened. Emperor Hongzhi smiled bitterly, and suddenly felt like he was feeding a dog out of kindness: “Then you will be fine, right?

” Thanks to Your Majesty Hongfu, it is said that his life is not in danger, it is just a superficial injury, but… I heard that they made a bet on

who can win the upper hand in this competition, and that is Tang Jieyuan

.

The most talented person in the south of the Yangtze River, and Fang Jifan’s three disciples… are not bad either.” Xie Qian smiled, his eyes shining.

At this moment, Liu Jian smiled bitterly.

There was a special meaning in Xie Qian’s words, and he even glanced at Liu Jian teasingly.

Of course, we are all old friends who have known each other for decades, and this kind of ridicule is just a joke.

Among the people present, there are two southerners and one northerner, such as Li Dongyang, who came from Changsha Prefecture. In the eighth year of Tianshun, he became the first in the second-level Jinshi in high school, which can be said to be among the best.

As for Xie Qian, he was from Yuyao County, Shaoxing Prefecture, Zhejiang Province. He was the top scholar in high school in the eleventh year of Chenghua.

Among these two people, they are the representatives of the exam masters in the south. They have extremely strong fighting ability and extremely high level. As long as they dare to ask questions, they can make a flower out of the article.

But Cha Cha, Liu Jian is from Henan, and Henan people participated in the Beipang. Liu Jian once ranked second in the Henan Provincial Examination, but when it came to the general examination, he was not satisfied. Not to mention ranking first, even second, he just caught it. A little tail, that’s all… He is already on the North Ranking, considered a leader.

The current situation is the same. Tang Bohu is Jieyuan of Nanbang and comes from Nanzhili, the hometown of the best in the exams in Nanbang. He and Fang Jifan are three disciples who are ranked first, second and third in Beizhili. It seems that their rankings are high. It’s almost the same, but in reality, it’s just like a hanging situation.

Fang Jifan was too ambitious to dare to make such a bet. Wasn’t this uncomfortable? Not to mention Jieyuan of Nanzhili, I am afraid that the candidates who ranked outside the tenth place in the Nanzhili Township Examination can rub against his three disciples.

Xie Qian was quite happy to see this matter. He was originally from Jiangnan and was happy to let people see the strength of Jiangnan Kaoba.

Liu Jian smiled bitterly, but just laughed it off.

Emperor Hongzhi said: “How can we allow them to play such a trivial matter in the talent promotion ceremony?”

After scolding him, he did not continue to investigate further.

The three bachelors have always known Emperor Hongzhi. Although they scolded and expressed their stance, I think His Majesty must also be very curious and naturally hope to see the ending.

“That’s right.” Li Dongyang smiled and deliberately changed the topic: “Today, the Ministry of Revenue received a letter from Fang Jifan, saying that he wanted to teach the Ministry of Revenue how to calculate money and grain.”

All of a sudden, Emperor Hongzhi suddenly became happy and couldn’t help laughing and said: “He also wants to teach the Ministry of Household Accounting to calculate money and grain? Where is the letter? Let me read it.”

Li Dongyang smiled bitterly: “I didn’t read it. It was received by Wang Wen’an, the chief registrar of the Ministry of Household Affairs. After opening only the beginning of the letter, he was so angry that he said that this prodigal son was so bold to bully the household, so… he tore up the letter…”

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head: “It’s just a child’s play, let’s go .

I want to scold him. “

In fact, how did they know that this letter was indeed sent by Fang Jifan. Fang Jifan was just doing Zhu Houzhao a favor by calculating money and food, but he was helping the prince, and he felt that the accounting of the Ministry of Revenue was more efficient. It was really too low, so I simply wrote down the “Debit and Loan Balancing Law” and sent it to the Ministry of Accounts.

This “Lending and Loan Balancing Law” originated in Italy in the 13th century and was introduced to China from Japan until the Guangxu period at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Among the various double-entry accounting methods, the debit and credit accounting method was the earliest and the most widely used and scientific accounting method in later countries around the world. With this, it will be much easier for the household department to do the accounting.

But now, in Nuange, when Li Dongyang mentioned this matter to Emperor Hongzhi, he couldn’t help but treat it as a joke.

Just as he was talking, a eunuch hurried in from outside: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty… Your Highness the Crown Prince has an audience.”

“Oh?” Emperor Hongzhi’s brows widened. In the past, I summoned him, and he came here reluctantly, but today he actually came. Taking the initiative to come to see him, this is… a rare thing.

In any case, it is indeed a happy event that his son still remembers having a father. Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t hide his smile: “Call me in to talk.”

After a while, Zhu Houzhao came excitedly and said: “Father, father… “Forget it… I figured it out.”

Zhu Houzhao was elated. In fact, he was so excited that he couldn’t fall asleep for half the night. He just felt that he had been beaten and couldn’t swallow it. Didn’t Lao Fang figure out the answer now? Humph, I just want to let my father know that this is not a rare thing. Fortunately, the household department is still there with a sullen look on its face.

It’s just that… Emperor Hongzhi’s hard-earned joy was suddenly… diluted.

(End of chapter)